Garment hanger



1939. F. A. RQENTCHLER 2,164,941

GARMENT HANGER Filed Sept. 10, 193,6

INVENTOR F ances A. Renfchler' ER ORNEY Patented July 4, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 15 Claims.

This invention relates to hook structure, and more particularly to hook structure adapted for self-locking engagement with a hooked object. The invention has special, though by no means 5 exclusive, application to garment hangers in which hook structure is associated with a garment receiving hanger for suspending the hanger from a suitable support.

In accomplishing the self-locking feature of the invention means are provided whereby pressure between the bed of the cradle of the hook and the object hooked will actuate a locking element into locking position across the hook opening. Maintenance of such pressure will effect 15 maintenance of lock during use of the hook structure.

Provision for simple and economical manufacture, positivity of locking action in use proportionate to individual requirements, and ease of operation are among the primary objects of the invention.

In the accompanying drawing:

Fig. 1 is an elevation of a garment hanger embodying my invention and shown in position on a supporting rod or bar.

Fig. 2 is an elevation of the upper part of a hanger embodying my invention and showing the locking means in normal or nonoperative position preparatory to placing the hanger on a supporting bar.

Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the structure shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged section on the line Fig. l.

Fig. 5 is an elevation of anotherembodiment of my invention, and

Fig. 6 is a sectional elevation on the of Fig. 5.

Referring to the drawing in which preferred embodiments of hook structure are illustrated in connection with the garment hanger Ill designates a garment supporting spreader or bar usually and preferably made of wood or other light weight and relatively strong material. This spreader or bar I is supported at the lower end of a hook I I, the upper part I2 of which is formed to conform generally with the size and contour of a supporting bar or rod I3 forming part of the equipment of a wardrobe or other garment storage space. The hook portions II and I2 are made of wire, preferably of a single strand looped as shown specifically in Figs. 2 and 3, with its free ends twisted together, as indicated by the reference numeral I4, and parallelly arranged and mutually coextensive elements I extending from line 6-6 the twisted portion to integral joinder at the free end of the curved portion I2 forming a shortshaft I6.

It will be noted, see particularly Fig. 2, that the above described hook portions II and I2 form. a 5 hook having a hook-opening between the free end, I6, of the curved portion I2 and that end of curved portion I2 which merges into portion II, the curved portion I2 providing a cradle for the hook having a bed formed along its inner face. 10

On the short-shaft I6 is rotatably mounted an angular member IT, as clearly shown in Figs. 1,

2, 3 and 4, which acts in conjunction with the elements I5 of the hook portion I2 as a means for locking the hanger elements I0, II and I2 on a rod or bar l3.

The member I1 is preferably made of sheet metal and the pivotal point thereof is adjacent to the smaller and the lower end thereof, as clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 3, this construction results in the member I'I tending always to assume the position shown in Fig. 2. This allows a free passage of the bar I3 through the hook-opening into the limits of the cradle of the hook member I2 to thereby engage with the upper end of the angular 25 member [1 and rotate the same about its pivot on the short-shaft I6. Rotation of the angular member ITI will move the lower end thereof from the position shown in Fig. 2 to the position shown in Fig. 1, where it will be noted that the rod or bar I3 is substantially entirely enclosed by the hook I2 and the angular member II, the hookopening thus being substantially closed.

In the aforementioned position, the rod I3 is in place on the bed of the cradle of the hook. The weight of the hanger I0 and of garments supported thereby will create pressure between the bed of the cradle and rod I3, thus maintaining the long arm of the angular member I! displaced outwardly from the bed of the cradle and the short arm. in locked position across the hookopening. Secured to or formed integral with the angular member I1, and in the wider portion thereof, is a projection 30 which, in the turning movement of the angular member I! from the position shown in Fig. 2 to the position shown in Fig. 1, is forced past one of the parallelly arranged elements I5 and into the position shown in Fig. 4. Because of the resiliency of the material of the parallelly arranged elements I5 considerable force is required to force the projection 30 from its position shown in Fig. 4 and therefore, this con struction constitutes an additional lock to hold the angular member I! from accidental removal from the rod or bar I3.

In order to prevent too great a rotary movement of the angular member I1, I have provided on such angular member and as an integral part thereof, a projection 18 which will engage with the hook member I2 as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, so as to retain the angular member I! in the position shown in Fig. 2. Also, I have provided the upper end of the angular member IT, as shown in Fig. 2, with a lateral projection I9 which will engage with a recess I9 formed in one of the members l5 and prevent the angular member I! from rotating on the trunnion I6 in a counterclockwise direction any farther than the position shown in Fig. 1.

With a garment hanger constructed as above described, the same may be placed on the rod or bar l3, and when thus placed the angular member I! will cooperate with the hook member I2 to prevent accidental displacement or removal of the garment hanger from the bar.

Referring now to Figs. 5 and 6, there is shown another embodiment of my invention as illustrated in the preceding figures and in such figures, while I maintain the parallel wire feature I5 of the hook I2, I arrange in that portion of the hook I2, remote from the end carrying the shortshaft I6, projections in which is securely fastened a short-shaft 20. On the short-shafts H5 and 20 respectively, I pivotally mount the angular memhers I'!, the normal or ordinary position of such angular member being that shown in full lines in Fig. 5, where it will be apparent that the full opening of the hook I2 is available for positioning the hanger on. a rod or bar I3. Also, that when such bar or rod I3 is engaged in the manner above described, the arms of the angular members I1, carrying the lateral projections IE), will be engaged by the rod or bar I3 and such angular members II will rotate about their respective short-shafts into the position shown. in dot and dash lines in Fig. 5. There results therefore a construction in which the weight of the garment hanger and/or the garments carried thereby acts to position angular members I? with respect to a rod or bar so as to prevent accidental displacement of the garment hanger on the bar or rod.

Whereas I have described my invention by reference to specific forms thereof, it will be understood that many changes and modifications may be madewithout departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. In a hanger, a hook for suspending the hanger from a support, said hook having a hookopening and a hook cradle and a rigid angular member pivotally mounted, intermediate its ends, on the hook for cooperation therewith substantially encircling the support when the hook is in position on the support, said angular member being adapted to lie' outside the hook cradle and extend around the bed of said cradle and across the hook opening when the hook is in its said position on the support, that portion of said angular member which extends around the bed of said cradle being so arranged and disposed as to hold in closed position, that portion of said angular member which extends across the hook opening, when force is exerted on said hook.

2. Structure as recited in claim. 1, wherein means are provided on the angular member for retaining such angular member in encircling relation to the support.

3. Stucture as recited in claim 1, wherein the portion of the angular member on one side of the pivot connection thereof to the hook is heavier than the portion on the other side of the pivotal support, whereby said angular support is normally maintained in position to permit the hook to be brought into hanging relation with the support.

4. Structure as recited in claim 1, wherein means are formed integral with the angular member for engaging with the hook when the hook is in support engaging relation to limit the rotative movement of the hook in one direction, and wherein additional means are formed integral with the angular member for retaining the angular member in operative relation with the hook.

5. Structure as recited in claim 1, wherein there is provided a plurality of angular members pivotally mounted on the hook for rotating, upon engagement of the hook with a support, to encircle the support and retain the hook in position thereon.

6. Hook structure comprising a hook element having a hook opening and a cradle; and locking means associated with said hook element, said locking means comprising movable actuating arm means normally positioned at a location intercepting repose in the bed of said cradle, and closure arm means mounted for movement across said hook opening in response to the movement of the actuating arm means, said actuating arm means being mounted for movement toward said bed and substantially into coincidence with the level of repose therein upon the reception of a hooked object by said cradle, mutually opposite pressure between said bed and said hooked object being effective to maintain said actuating arm means in moved position and, coincidentally, to maintain said closure arm means in closed position across said hook opening.

7. Hook structure as recited in claim 6 wherein means is provided on. the closure arm means for engaging the hook element to aid the maintenance of the stated closure arm. means in closed position.

8. Hook structure comprising a hook element having a hook opening and a cradle; and a lever means pivoted, intermediate the ends, to the hook element, the said lever means, respectively, having angularly related arms, one of said arms being normally positioned at a location intercepting repose in the bed of said cradle, and being adapted to swing toward said bed and substantially into coincidence with the level of repose therein upon the reception of a hooked object by said cradle, and the angular position of the other arm with respect to the first named arm being such that. upon said swinging-of the first named arm, said other arm will swing into a position substantially closing the said hook opening, mutually opposite pressure between said bed and said hooked object being effective to maintain said first named arm in its swung position and, coincidentally, said other arm in its position substantially closing the said hook opening.

9. Hook stucture as recited in claim 8 wherein limit stop members are provided to limit the swinging motion of the arms of said lever within prescribed limits.

l0. Hook structure as recited in claim 8 wherein locking means are provided for aiding the maintenance of the stated closure arm means in closed position.

11. Hook structure for a hanger, comprising a hook element having a hook opening and a cradle, said hook element including two mutually spaced, coextensive hook members having a member secured therebetween adjacent the hook-ends thereof, said member serving as a short-shaft; and a lever journaled intermediate its ends on said short-shaft, said lever having angularly related arms, one of said arms being normally positioned at a location intercepting repose in the bed of said cradle, and being adapted to: swing toward said bed and substantially into coincidence with the level of repose therein upon the reception of a hooked object by said cradle, and the angular position of the other arm with respect to the first named arm being such that, u on said swinging of the first named arm, said other arm will swing into a position closing the said hook opening, mutually opposite pressure between said bed and said hooked object being effective to maintain said first named arm in its swung position and, coincidentally, said other arm in its position closing the said hook opening.

12. Hook structure as recited in claim 11 wherein limit stop members are provided to limit the swinging motion of the arms of said lever means within prescribed limits.

13. Hook structure as recited in claim 11 wherein locking means are provided for aiding the maintenance of the stated closure arm means in closed position.

14. Hook structure as recited in claim 11 wherein a second lever, similar to the stated lever, is

pivotally mounted between the stated hook members at a location removed from the stated shortshaft.

15. Hook structure for a hanger comprising a single length of wire in the form of a hook element having a hook opening and a cradle, said single length of wire having a looped end and two mutually spaced, coextensive hook members integrally joined at the hook-end by the said looped end of said length of wire, said looped end providing a short-shaft; and a lever journaled intermediate its ends on said short shaft, said lever having angularly related arms, one of said arms being normally positioned at a location intercepting repose in the bed of said cradle, and being adapted to swing toward said bed and substantially into coincidence with the level of repose therein upon the reception of a hooked object by said cradle, and the angular position of the other arm with respect to the first named arm being such that, upon said swinging of the first named arm, said other arm will swing into a position closing the said hook opening, mutually opposite pressure between said bed and said hooked object being effective to maintain said first named arm. in its swung position and, coincidentally, said other arm in its position closing the said hook opening.

FRANCES A. RENTCHLER. 

